happy chinese new year to my friends who celebrate - found this spectacular display of a dragon dance ( this year is the year of the water dragon ) - incredible talent - and way cool too, cause it's illuminated :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3aYlRWUEJg&a mp" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3aYlRWUEJg&a mp" target="_blank"http://www.youtube.com/watch?...;feature=share

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Just heard this sad news ~ Ms. Etta James has passed away. I love her work, especially "At Last", along with so many others. Here's a link to one song that she sang, that seems rather fitting for todays news ~ Rest in Peace dear Ms. Etta James ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8OiwWIrLP8&a mp" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8OiwWIrLP8&a mp" target="_blank"http://www.youtube.com/watch?...;feature=related

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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 So my family got together tonight and my folk's house - and my stepson had come across this movie - my brother shared it with us.

 It is about Dr. Bruzynski, and how he has found a CURE for some cancers - including brain tumors - and how the U. S. government has fought to stop him.

 It's an unbeleivable insite to what really goes on, and just how money - hungry some truly are. 

 So frustrating on so many levels ----

  Bottom line - my Dad, Captain Nemo COULD HAVE BEEN CURED! 

Here is the link to the website, where you can get the movie/documentary - http://www.burzynskiclinic.com/" title="http://www.burzynskiclinic.com/" target="_blank"http://www.burzynskiclinic.co...
 - or you can also see it on Netflix   ... they are also on Facebook as well    -

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 Merry Christmas fellow tBloggers ~ a friend of mine posted this beautiful rendition of P.Tchaikovsky's Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker Suite, played on the glass harp, and I wanted to share it.   Enjoy, and Merry Christmas to everyone!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdoTdG_VNV4" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdoTdG_VNV4" target="_blank"http://www.youtube.com/watch?...

  ...Took flowers for Captain Nemo with my Mum and Kiddo ...

 - sorry about the no 1th day post, on the 11th day ... ended up with a migraine and a sick stomach. Not surprising, given it was the eve before the 3rd year anniversary of Capt. Nemo's passing, plus dealling with so much stress in the last couple of weeks that I litterally had acid up to my throat the entire two weeks.  - Loosing some friends suddenly, the news of loosing our fellow tblogging friend Assilisious suddenly, and then to top it off, lest night around ten pm., my nighbor calls to let me know that her Mother passed away around 7:30pm. - ( you may recall that I mentioned her in an earlier post. She had contracted mersa from a cat scratch, and it had gotten so bad that the doctors decided to take her leg from about the knee, down. I think that perhaps it prolonged her life a bit, but sadly the Mersa was all through her, and they also found that she had cancer as well. - I really think that if she had not had the Mersa, that she could have won against the cancer - but of course one can only guess in a situation like this.  so   I'm learning that I am doing the right thing by being good to myself, and taking it easy during the first "12 Days of Christmas", but I have also learned, that I need to let it out, and not hold it in and "be strong" during this time either. It's more tha I can do, and really, I should be letting things out, and not try to "keep it all together" - and just cry whenever and if-ever I need to during my "12 Days of Christmas" &nbs p;

 ....The actual "12 Days of Christmas", start on December 25th, Christmas Day, ( the day used to celebrate The Christ Child's birth), and goes until January 6th, Epiphany, ( the day used to celebrate the arrival of the three kings/Wise men? or Magi to see The Christ CHild, who by that time was no longer in the stable, but in a house, though the Star still shone ) - I'll post about this another time.

Here's something cute I should have posted for swans - though I don't see the swan, they are very pretty!
http://www.chiq.com/manolo-blahnik/swan-e mbellished-satin-pump" title="http://www.chiq.com/manolo-blahnik/swan-e mbellished-satin-pump" target="_blank"http://www.chiq.com/manolo-bl...

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 Whew! - I'm wiped out!! - actually had to take a nap today becaus eof the "lete night" sleepover last night. - THink I'll probably be hitting the hay early tonight too. ( Ugh! I'm getting old and just can't keep up witht he kiddos ).  I got to talk with my Mum this evening on the phone, and was even able to make her laugh - we both needed it. - I've decided that come Monday ( Dec. 12th - my "12th Day of Christmas" ), I will be taking a break ~ being it will be the third anniversary of when Captain Nemo passed. I'll take flowers ~ Mum and I will probably go together ~ and probably just be at home decorating, ( no school ), and doing Christmasy stuff and just be good to myself on that day.  Whew....can't beleive that day is almost here.

 ..ok here's one fo ya - My Mum tells me she gets in the mail today, a notice for Captain Nemo to renew his drivers licence ...like I said, it will be three years since he's passed - Ummmm - yeah :/ 

( ok, only 9 lords a leaping - but I thought it was too cute to pass up - that plus Captain Nemo's heritage is Scottish - he would have laughed at this pic too! )

 Well, I'm up - awake after actually falling asleep for a few blissful moments, ( I know, can you beleive it?!! ). It felt like hours of sleep ( ok at least a couple), but I was probebly more like 20 to 30 minutes max. My Kiddo and her BFF talked and gabbed, like girls will do, and then Kiddo's BFF, nodded off to sleep - but not Kiddo. - (Perhaps too much excitement), so after some consoling and some pleasent thoughts to help her drift off to slumberland, she went back to bed. - I only hope it took, and she's able to sleep. - but now ( of course, I'm awake again. - Not too much different than normal for me, but I wish I could have caught 40 more winks, - or at least maybe another 20. ;)

 Tomorrow is French Toast for Breakfast, and painting nails, and perhaps a little tree trimming, or some such Christmastime fun. :D

 Sleepover tonight for kiddo and her BFF ( BFF is coming here ) - wish me luck!! 


..............what was I thinking?!!  AHHHHHH!!!!!...................... (LOL!)

 Ugh - Photo bucket is not letting me post a pic today - grrr - oh well, I'll try that part again later ~

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  Well today has been a meloncoly day - fist shock and sadnness with the news of the passing of our fellow tblogger, Shawna Froelich ( assalicious ) - Please, if you haven't already, go over to Surragate's tBlog page, where he has posted about Shawna and her passing. - And also, take some time to view her blog as well, and perhaps leave a message for her family and friends. I didn't know Shawna really well, but I did follow her blog, and enjoyed her posts. To me she was a vibrant young lady with a sence of humour to match - saying just how she felt, and living life to it's fullest. - a spirit I truly admired. I hope she knew how much she was loved and cared about.

 And then, a dear dear friend of mine, whom I have known well over 20 years, who also lost his Dad a year ago, posted the most beautiful music, and dedicated it to both od our Dads.  ....I'd like to also post it here, and share the dedication with sweet Shawna ~ 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw8-OK1-aC0&a mp" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw8-OK1-aC0&a mp" target="_blank"http://www.youtube.com/watch?...;feature=share

 So today was a bit better - Kiddo and I went to the house of a friend of mine, this evening, and made Christmas cookies together. My friend is someone I've known since elementary school, and we always have so much fun together! We brought some sugar cookie mix,a nd some snickerdoodle cookies mix, as well as a couple of Christmas gifts.
We had fun making sugar cookies, - houses, and stars, and all with lots of colorful sprinkles. And we made white chocolate, macadamia nut cookies too - MMMM!!! And of course we HAD to "taste test" them along with a warm cup of hot chocolate. DOUBLE MMMM!!!! - We had such a nice visit, and chatted, and caught up on each other and our families, and Kiddo was even able to help fix a tv that was on the blink. :)  ....We had such a nice visit that time got away from us - We have to set another time to get togethe,r to finish making the snickerdoodle cookies, and some Peanut butter blossom cookies, -  and maybe even some good old fashioned Chocolate Chip cookies too!! :D Cant' wait!! :D

 - And now, as promised - The Spinach Pie Recipie:

  3 cups - chopped yellow onions ( 2 onions )

  2 TBSP - good olive oil

  2 TSP - kosher salt ( I use Sea salt )

  1 1/2 TSP - freshly ground pepper

  3 ( 10 - ounce ) - packages of frozen chopped spinach, defrosted

  6 - extra large eggs, beaten

 2 TSp - grated nutmeg

  2 TSP - grated Parmesan cheese

  3 TBSP - plain dry bread crumbs

  1/2 LB - good feta cheese, crumbled

  1/2 cup - Pignoli ( Pine nuts - I chop mine up a little bit )

  1/4 LB - salted butter, melted ( I used unsalted - and only used 1/2 the amount = 1 and 1/2 sticks of butter )

  6 sheets - phyllo dough, defrosted

....... Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
 In a medium saute' pan ( I used a regular pan ), on medium heat, saute' the onions with the olive oil until translucent and slightly browned. 10 to 15 minutes. Add the salt and pepper and allow to cool slightly.
   Squeeze out and discard as much of the liquid from the spinach as possible. Put the spinach into a bowl and then gently mix in the onions, eggs, nutmeg, Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, feta cheese, and pignoli.
    Butter an ovenproof, nonstick 8 inch saute' pan, ( I used a 8 or 9in oval baking dish ), and line it with 6 stacked sheets of phylo dough, brushing each layer with melted butter and letting the edges hang over the sides of the pan or baking dish. Pour the spinach mixture into the middle of the phyllo dough and spread, and then neatly fold the edges of the phyllo dough up and over the top to seal in the filling ( don't worry if you have some small gaps at the top ).
Brush the top well with melted butter. Bake for 1 hour, until the top is golden brown and the filling is set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool compleately. Serve at room temperature.  ( I served this hot and it was de-lish-ous! ) - ENJOY! - ~  

( ok there aren't six geese in this pic, but it's the only one that would post for me - plus I like this one, even without the sixth goose - er geese - er gooses ) ;)



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 Today's been a strange day - Mondays are sometimes like that - got some cleaning and some decorating done, and plans confirmed for making Christmas cookies with friends.  - Should be fun! :)  Made seasoned flounder and twice backed potaos for dinner tonight, and am watching "Neverland" a tv movie about Peter Pan. - Still not sure about it, the jury is still out for me. I like tradition. - This version is supposedly set before the story we all know and love, and tells how it all began. - I still love "Finding Neverland" the movie ~ which tells about John Barry and his life, and how he came to write the beloved story.

 Well, I guess that's it - still need to post that spinach pie recipie - seems I remember it after I've settled in and started writing - * note to self, get cookbook and set it next to the computer *